Guptagate a textbook case of treachery

‘ZUMA told me to help Guptas” (March 20) refers. The unravelling of Guptagate reads like a textbook of treachery. It is a disillusioning experience for the South African public, and trust in government declines sharply in response as cynicism towards politics and public figures increases. The cumulative effect of Guptagate is a legacy of suspicion and distrust. It has come to represent the lawless power of a lawless people.

All it takes is the incantation of magic words like “I am in charge” and “Only I appoint cabinet ministers” to inure yourself to accountability for just about any malfeasance. Lying is a clear betrayal of trust. It screams for recognition as the most impeachable offence of our elected leaders.

Guptagate is a Shakespearean tragedy of epic proportions. In all of this, President Jacob Zuma has acted in a manner contrary to the trust placed in him as president, and in a manner subversive of constitutional government — to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the citizens of our country.

We have now reached a “credibility gap” between what the president is saying and what he is doing.

Guptagate is a name to describe the destructive powers of corruption and how it eats away at the institutions of democracy. The damage it has done to the polity is astronomical. The assault on the rule of law is a devastating setback for our constitutional order. — Farouk Araie, Johannesburg

Pigs at trough are shameless

THE revelations about the dark life of President Jacob Zuma and the Guptas make a toothache feel like a haircut in a salon. Zuma’s presidency has gradually destroyed our innocence and eroded our moral standing in the international community. We feel naked, and every time Zuma appears on TV we have nightmares.

Even apartheid leaders like this would have fallen on their swords. The pigs at the trough, most of them Zuma loyalists in the national executive committee of the ANC, have no shame.

Those among us, especially in the black community, who had some hope that the leadership of the ANC would protect the interests of the country when really needed, have lost hope. Zuma created a dark system that will take generations to overcome. It is time for us to unite and defend our children’s future. — Matete Letsie, Bodibe

Can’t barney with the truth

BARNEY Mthombothi’s “Good citizens cannot ignore havoc wrought by SA’s wrecking ball” (March 20) refers. Amen to every word in your column, sir. More power to your keyboard, please keep telling it like it is. — Margaret Frey, Cape Town

At least the media gives a fig

THANKS to the media we learn about this Gupta issue in our politics. Reading “‘I was really, really, really shocked, and turned him down’ ” (March 20) makes my heart bleed for this brave woman, Vytjie Mentor. We as citizens and the media must do everything possible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Mentor and her family. Keep up the good work. — David, by e-mail

Save us from the Guptas

CAN you guys do something to save our democracy from the Guptas? I don’t hate them but I hate their mission. — Nkosinathi, by e-mail

Jonas is not alone

“HOW ANC failed to get Jonas to change his story” (March 20) refers.

Mcebisi Jonas is just one of the surgeons trying to rid Luthuli House and Saxonwold of its cancerous tumours. — KC, by e-mail

ANC’s response is fishy

“THERE are not plenty of horse mackerel in the sea” (March 13) refers. In the story, the ANC fishing desk says the allocation of an 8 000-ton horse mackerel experimental permit to Hermanus businessman James Booi addresses “skewed” rights allocations.

Does Faizel Moosa, deputy chairman of the ANC fishing desk, not recognise the fundamental changes that have taken place in the fishing industry since 1994, under ANC governments? According to the review of right holders published by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2009, the average percentage of black shareholding across all right holders in midwater trawl fishery is 51.27% (it is probably higher today). The biggest right holder— the Oceana Group — was rated as the most empowered listed company in South Africa in 2014 (the Mail & Guardian’s ranking of most empowered companies) and repeated this feat in 2015 (the Independent’s ranking of most empowered companies).

By the department’s own estimation, the members of the Deep Sea Trawling Industry Association (which has a very similar membership to the Midwater Trawl Association) are, on average, 62% black owned. Surely this is something that Moosa and the ANC fishing desk should be proud of, not try to obfuscate? — Dr Johann Augustyn, secretary, South African Midwater Trawling Association

Legal crooks easily foiled

“SHOW us the money” (March 6) refers. Crooked lawyers getting away? Sure they are as guilty as sin and seem to ride the system with impunity. But once the blame game has run its course, why not remove the temptation to rob the victims with the following simple steps? Victim approaches lawyer, lawyer lays a claim with the Road Accident Fund. Once the compensation amount has been approved, the RAF notifies the lawyer, who in turn bills the RAF for the fee that the department may decide to negotiate. Once the fee is approved, the amount is credited to the lawyer, and the balance of the claim is paid to the claimant. Dead easy. Or is corruption so much a part of this country that this reform cannot be implemented? — Bernard, Johannesburg

Zuma is also simply wrong

“YOU are simply wrong on HIV/Aids, Mr Mbeki” (March 13) refers. I am surprised that Salim Abdool Karim went to such lengths to criticise the former president’s nostalgic stance regarding HIV/Aids and yet did not mention the current president's stance in court that taking a shower reduces the chance of contracting HIV. — Tisetso Sekese, Ekurhuleni